BIRCH TREE. 



BETULA. 



BETULIDE.*. MON(ECIA TETRANDRIA. 



French, bouleau ; Italian, maio, maiella, betula, or betulla. The 

 latter name is common also to the Spanish and Portuguese. 



THE Birch, Betula alba, is a native of Asia, chiefly in 

 mountainous situations ; and of Europe, from Lapland 

 to the subalpine parts of Italy, so that it is no stranger 

 to this country. This tree may be immediately distin- 

 guished by its bark, which is of a silver colour, or some- 

 times approaching to a flesh colour ; by the airy appear- 

 ance of its small leaves, in summer, and in winter by the 

 elegant drooping of its bare boughs. There are few trees 

 so ornamental in a leafless state as the Birch-tree, which 

 some have compared to an elegant woman, from the 

 peculiar grace of its appearance. Mr. Coleridge terms 



it the 



" most beautiful 



Of forest teees, the Lady of the woods." 



Keats speaks of 



" the silvery stems 



Of delicate Birch- trees." 



It is happily described by Wilson, in his Isle of 

 Palms, &c. : 



" on the green slope 



Of a romantic glade we sat us down, 



Amid the fragrance of the yellow broom, 



While o'er our heads the weeping Birch-tree streamed 



Its branches, arching like a fountain shower." 



